Stand in awe of the tallest trees on Earth

Adjacent to mighty Yosemite National Park, but no less majestic, the twin parks of Sequoia and Kings Canyon are a study in superlatives: Nature is at its deepest, tallest, strongest and widest here. Mount Whitney, the highest peak in the continental U.S., is found in Sequoia, while Kings River Canyon – which rivals the Grand Canyon in sheer size – is found in Kings. Whether you limit yourself to one park or the other or try to tackle both, you’ll need a couple of days minimum to take in the splendor. And you’ll be pleasantly surprised to find half as many visitors as at Yosemite.

Only one road, the Generals Highway, loops through the parks. Don’t stay in your car because you’ll miss the grandeur of the experience: feeling yourself to be a small and humble creature at the ankles of the giant sequoias. To experience their magnificence, plan to hike along the Redwood Canyon trail or the Big Trees trail; or, if you come in winter, explore the park by snowshoe or cross-country skis. The park also offers opportunities to horseback ride, rock climb and picnic.